Inclusion and accessibility in Elsevier books
Build knowledge that’s usable and inclusive — supported by guidance, standards and best practices.
Why inclusion and accessibility matter
Books influence how knowledge is taught and applied. Inclusion and accessibility help ensure that what you publish can be understood and used by a wider range of readers, in different learning contexts and with different needs.
They also support the way content lives in today’s environments. Many readers access books across digital platforms, which means accessibility is about more than format — it’s about creating content that works reliably, clearly and consistently from page to screen.
By building accessibility and inclusive practices into the way you prepare your content, you help strengthen the usability of your book for educators, students and professionals — across health and science & technology.
What to consider as you prepare content
As you work on your manuscript, consider how to make your content clearer and easier to use. For example:
Organize information in a way that supports readers’ understanding (clear structure, consistent terminology)
Use accessible formatting for figures, tables and supporting materials
Consider how readers will navigate and find key information (headings, callouts and signposting where appropriate)
Ensure plain-language explanations where complexity is unavoidable and define essential terms in context
Our standards and guidance
Elsevier works with authors to support consistent, high-quality content standards across print and digital formats. That includes guidance designed to help your work be easier to understand, easier to navigate and more usable for a broad set of readers.
When you become an Elsevier author, we’ll provide:
Digital guidelines for how content should be structured and presented for modern reading experiences
Best-practice guidance for preparing figures, tables and supporting materials
Smart authoring tools you can use during the writing and editing stages
FAQs
The European Accessibility Actopens in new tab/window (EAA) (Directive 2019/882) is a European Union directive that aims to improve the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities and the elderly. Elsevier has been compliant with the Act since it came into force in June 2025. Newly published ebooks include comprehensive alt text image descriptions, and video captions, audio description and transcription as required.
Read Elsevier's Statement on the European Accessibility Act.
The Americans with Disabilities Actopens in new tab/window (ADA) is a federal law that aims to ensure equal access and opportunities for people with disabilities across various areas, including access to information and technology. Elsevier is adhering to the Act as our teams incorporate measures including the accessibility of book ancillary materials and online courses.
Read Elsevier's Statement on the Updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II.
As new titles enter the production stage of our content development workflow, prior to publication and where there are images requiring alt text image descriptions, Elsevier is responsible for the creation and addition of alt text. The alt text is generated by suppliers that specialise in image descriptions using AI to generate the description, with human overview to ensure responsible use of AI. The author is given the opportunity to review the alt text during their regular proof review process and guidance is provided as part of the proofing instructions. Our Book Author Guide to Alt Text for Images opens in new tab/window covers what high-quality alt text is and how it appears in Elsevier ebooks, and provides an alt text proofing checklist.
Yes, we have launched an Accessible Format Request service for Elsevier ebooks, which allows readers to request accessible features be added to legacy titles for which they currently have access. For more information see Books Accessible Format Request service.
Inclusion across health and science & technology
Inclusion and accessibility apply across Elsevier Books — whether your content serves health education and practice or science and technology learning.
Clear structure, accessible visuals and consistent terminology help readers find and understand key information, regardless of background or learning needs. In both cases, the goal is the same: make knowledge easier to use with confidence.
Next steps
Explore our guidance for use of generative AI and AI-assisted technology
Learn more about the audiences we serve
Share your proposal so our Books team can route you to the right next steps